The Russian Federal Space Agency is awaiting Iran’s proposals for equipment to make the Iranian satellite Zohre, according to Dec. 22 Russian reports.

The agency’s deputy director, Yuri Nosenko, was quoted in Itar-Tass saying that the spacecraft Zohre could not be launched before 2009, instead of 2007 as was originally planned. The official cited unidentified European subcontractors for the delay.

In 2004, Moscow and Tehran signed a $134 million dollar contract for Zohre, Iran’s fifth communications satellite.